work / life balance

Do you feel like you are getting the most from life outside of work? Ask these simple questions to decipher whether you are achieving the work / life balance you desire:

Do you have time to reflect and be alone? Would you like more alone time?
Do you have time to socialize in the way that you would like with friends and family?
Do you have time to relax? Would you like more relaxation time?
Do you have time to engage in hobbies, classes or interests?
Do you have time to do fun and playful things, just for the sake of it?
Do you have meaningful personal goals that you are working towards?
Do you have regular vacations or staycations to unwind and relax?

If the answer to most of these questions is no, it’s possible you aren’t getting the work / life balance you desire. Try rearranging things a little and if your work is not allowing you to get the most out of your personal life, consider whether there are more suitable positions out there which would give you the work / life balance you desire.

Ironically, in order to find a healthier work / life balance we must work hard. the beauty though is that once healthy routines and habits have been established we reap countless rewards and our overall quality of life soars to new heights.

I hope the exercises have helped you to find greater balance in your life but please do not be dismayed if at first it seemed like it was adding to your to do list. whilst change is always an adjustment I promise that the changes outlined in this months hot topic will serve to enhance your life in beautiful, fulfilling and even unexpected ways. For example, I’m sure your family will love seeing a more relaxed and playful you and that your relationships will thrive as a result.

In today’s society which emphasizes the importance of money and success it is easy to become very driven to succeed. The danger is when this desire translates into workaholism and our personal lives suffer. There are many suggestions in this month’s Monday series posts to limit the impact of work outside of working hours and maximize our productivity whilst in work, however, if you feel you are falling into the workaholic trap beware, burn out may be on the horizon.

In reality when we burn out we are out of action for much longer than if we had just put on the breaks sooner to an overwhelming schedule or career, and, whilst self care such as a healthy diet, meditation and exercise can help, it can’t eradicate those crazy hours you might be working.

It’s always difficult to take a pay cut, which is what invariably happens when we change jobs for one with less responsibility and a better work / life balance. Though this is never an easy decision, it is one that those of us who have climbed the career ladder will at some point face (or at the very least think about).

Having had post traumatic stress disorder in the past I know my limitations well and, for me, a work life balance that supports my emotional well being and health is my number one priority. Sure, when faced with the question ‘do you want to be stressed and work all the time?’ almost everyone would say no. In reality though, the process of climbing the career ladder is a gradual one and, with practicalities to consider like rising living costs and bills, finances understandably must impact our decision.

Though only you will know what is best for you, if you feel like you are constantly burnt out and you are not sure how much longer you can sustain your current lifestyle, I would urge you to consider whether changing jobs / careers is maybe something to look into.

If you are exploring your options for a new career follow the steps below for an easy way to reach a decision that works for you:

Ok so I know there’s A LOT of exercises this week, so feel free to schedule this one in for any time in the next two weeks. I would say that this is one of the most important exercises as it cultivates true self expression and can be so immensely rewarding, genuinely renewing your spirit.

Schedule in a creative activity from Monday’s list (or think of anything creative for that matter) to do for one evening this week – even if only for an hour. TIP: Your favorite childhood creative pastimes are often extremely fun to revisit!

Taking the time to reflect peacefully is a very therapeutic exercise and one I do often. This week give yourself full permission to schedule in some quality alone time for at least thirty minutes. Look over Monday’s list or think up some ideas to tailor suit you.

Did you know it’s actually super productive to schedule in play? It has been found to have a whole bunch of benefits including greater light-heartedness, empathy, flexibility, adaptiveness, optimism, hope for the future and produces a sense of belonging. Play even promotes our being open to new ideas and increases our creativity.

Take a close look at the playful activities as listed in Monday’s series post or think up your own and do one playful activity this week.

I once heard a wise man say health = energy (the awesome Tony Robbins). To me this is so true, when I have been at my healthiest I have felt a vitality that was otherwise absent. It gave me more energy to do the things that were most important to me and provided me with more endurance and a greater zest for life.

When you have energy like this you are able to put your all into work and life, making you feel less run down by all that you need to do and more enthused to do your very best. It improves your social life because you are more up for meeting people, the pursuit of your passions is given a boost and generally your life outside of work flourishes. Work wise you feel more motivated and driven to perform well too.